A blast on a freight train carrying chemical and oil products through the Rostov-on-Don region in Russia throws wreckage around 100 metres into the air and into an apartment block. Thirteen people are taken to hospital.

BELAYA KALITVA, ROSTOV-ON-DON REGION, RUSSIA (MAY 9, 2013) (REUTERS) - An explosion on a freight train carrying chemicals and oil products hurled part of a railcar into a residential block in southern Russia earlier on Thursday (May 9), injuring 27 people of whom 13 were taken to hospital, officials said.

"At the moment there are no dangers, neither from toxic substances, nor of another explosion or fire spreading across, for the residents as well as for the people working at the fire site," Konstantinov said.

A criminal investigation has been launched into possible safety breaches.